Dynamic Responses of Ascorbate Pool and Metabolism in Lettuce to Light Intensity at Night Time under Continuous Light Provided by Red and Blue LEDs

To understand the dynamic changes of hydroponic lettuce growth, ascorbate (AsA) pool and metabolism under two different dark period light intensities (LL, 20 μmol·m(−2)·s(−1); CL, 200 μmol·m(−2)·s(−1)) of continuous light and normal light (NL, 0 μmol·m(−2)·s(−1)) provided by red (R) and blue (B) LEDs, the chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, ascorbate pool size, AsA metabolism-related enzyme activities, and H(2)O(2) contents of lettuce were measured at 0, 8, 16, 24, 32, 40, 48, 56, 64, and 72 h after light treatment and the lettuce growth parameters were measured on the 9th day after light treatment. The results showed that compared with the NL, CL treatment for 9 days significantly increased the biomass, dry matter content, and specific leaf weight of lettuce, but had no significant effect on the leaf area and root-to-shoot ratio; LL had no significant effect on lettuce biomass, but it would reduce the root-shoot ratio. Compared with the NL, the AsA content of CL increased significantly within 8 h after light treatment (at the end of first dark period), and then maintained at a relatively stable level with a slight increase; there was no significant difference in AsA contents between NL and LL showing the same circadian rhythm characteristics. Overall, the activities of L-galactono-1,4-lactone dehydrogenase (GalLDH), ascorbate peroxidase(APX), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), and glutathione reductase (GR) under CL were the highest among the three treatments, and the differences with the other two treatments reached significant levels at several time points; there was almost no significant difference in the activities of GalLDH, APX, MDHAR, and GR between NL and LL; there was no significant difference in the activities of dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) under different treatments. Compared with the NL, CL caused a sharp decrease of PSⅡ maximal photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) in lettuce within 0–8 h after treatment, which then stabilized at a relatively stable level; the Fv/Fm value under the LL was almost the same as the NL. Except for 32 h, the H(2)O(2) content of lettuce under CL was the highest among the three treatments during the entire experimental period, and was significantly higher than that of NL at several time points; the H(2)O(2) content of LL was almost the same as NL. In summary, lettuce biomass, AsA contents, AsA metabolism-related enzyme activities, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, and H(2)O(2) contents were regulated by the dark period light intensities of continuous light rather than continuous light signals.